279. The following Code of Instructions must be observed by Guards and others with respect to the conveyance of Vehicles containing Explosives and other Dangerous Goods:-
1. While the loading, unloading, or conveyance of explosives or other Dangerous Goods is going on, each person engaged in such loading, unloading, or conveyance must observe all necessary precautions for the prevention of accident by fire or explosion; must not allow any unauthorised person to have access to such goods; must abstain from smoking or any act whatever which tends to cause fire or explosion, and is not reasonably necessary for the loading, unloading, or conveyance; and must prevent any other person from committing any such act. Further, he must not have upon him any matches.
2. Inflammable Liquids, Oily Rags, Oily Waste, Oily Paper, Oily Canvass, Oily Mill Sweepings, and similar goods, must be loaded in separate waggons (iron-bottomed waggons being used in all cases where available), which must be kept as far away as practicable from others containing goods, and such waggons must not be placed within the Company's Sheds or Warehouses.
3. In loading or unloading any Explosive, the casks and packages containing the same must, as far as practicable, be passed from hand to hand, and not rolled upon the ground, and in no case must any such casks or packages be rolled unless clean hides, cloths, or sheets have been previously laid down on the platform or ground over which the same are to be rolled. Casks or packages containing Explosives must not be thrown or dropped, but must be carefully deposited and stowed.
4. Gunpowder Vans must in every case be locked when sent loaded with Gunpowder, and the key forwarded to the receiving station.
5. Distinctive labels are provided, and on no account must vehicles containing Explosives or other Dangerous Goods, except when in metallic cases or cylinders, be allowed to travel unless one of these is securely affixed on each side, in order that the Guards may be aware of the contents.
6. Whenever vehicles containing Explosives, Inflammable Liquids, or other Dangerous Goods have to be forwarded by train, the special attention of the Head Guard in charge of the train must be called to the vehicles by a duly authorised person. and he will be held resposible for the proper observance of these instructions while the goods are being conveyed on the train, and until they are delivered into the safe custody of the Station Staff.
7. The vehicles must be placed as far as practicable from the engine, and no fire must be allowed in the Guards' Break-vans when any vehicles containing such goods are attached to the train, and not more than five vehicles containing Explosives must be conveyed by any one train at any one time.
8. Vehicles containing Oil or other traffic of an inflammable nature must not be put on the train near to vehicles containing Gunpowder or other Explosives.
9. At evey Satation at which a train stops the Guard in charge must make a special examination of the waggons containing any description of Explosives or other Dangerous Goods, and must more especially examine the axle-boxes, and, if the axles show the least sign of heating, the waggon must be detached, and the attention of the Agent or foreman specially directed to it. SPECIAL CARE MUST BE TAKEN NOT TO BRING ANY LIGHT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO WAGGONS CONTAINING EXPLOSIVE OR INFLAMMABLE GOODS.
In the event of it being necessary to detach, as unfit to travel, any such vehicle at any point short of its destination, the Guard must advise the person in charge of the Station or Siding where the vehicle is detached, in order that the necessary precautions may be taken by all concerned in dealing with the defective vehicle.
10. Gunpowder for Branch Stations, or for any Station not on the direct route to be taken by the van, must not be sent in small lots requiring transhipment, except it be packed in metallic cylinders, and when Gunpowder requiring transhipment arrives at a Junction, the transhipment must be effected as speedily as possible.
11. Before detaching at the end of his journey, or at exchange Sidings, vehicles containing any description of Explosives or Dangerous Goods, the Head Guard in charge of the train must call the special attention of a duly authorised person, and obtain his instructions as to the disposal of the vehicles.
12. The waggons must, at the Receiving Station, be immediately separated from other waggons, and at both the Sending and Receiving Stations must not be allowed to come within any of the company's enclosed sheds or Warehouses.
NOTES.- Explosives and other Dangerous Goods must not, except where special instructions are given to the contrary, be carried by trains conveying passengers.
Loose shunting of vehicles containing Explosives is strictly prohibited.
